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NoWcard Concessionary Travel System (Managed Service)

Lancashire County Council

This public procurement record has 5 releases in its history.

AwardUpdate

16 Oct 2026 at 08:33

UK6 - Contract Award Notice
Award

07 Oct 2026 at 17:59

UK6 - Contract Award Notice
Tender

07 May 2026 at 15:56

UK4 - Tender Notice
Planning

03 Oct 2025 at 08:36

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Planning

26 Sep 2025 at 16:18

UK1 - Pipeline Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Lancashire County Council is procuring a managed IT service for the NoWcard concessionary travel smart-card scheme, on behalf of councils in Cumberland, Westmorland and Furness, Lancashire, Blackburn with Darwen and Blackpool. NoWcard passes are used mainly by older and disabled passengers; the card records journeys and checks eligibility for concessionary travel. The service covers an ITSO-compliant system: a host operator processing and asset management system, secure application module management, cardholder and card management for national concessionary travel and commercial schemes, an online application portal integrating those schemes, and card printing and dispatch. Delivery is across the participating authorities’ administrative areas in England. This is a combined software and managed-service requirement, rather than a purchase of smart cards alone.

The procurement is complete and has been awarded to South West Smart Applications Limited, trading as Smart Applications Management. The award is dated 7 October 2026 and is valued at £1.2 million gross. The contract is due to run from 1 November 2026 to 31 October 2029, with an implementation period of up to six months and three years of managed services; extensions may take the total term to no more than seven years and six months, ending by 31 March 2034. One lot covered the full requirement. The open competitive flexible procedure used three stages: supplier selection, award evaluation, then demonstrations and finalisation. Bids had to pass essential-criteria and mandatory-requirement checks; scored criteria were quality and technical (60%), price (30%) and social value (10%).

This award shows demand across a group of North West councils for a supplier able to deliver and maintain an integrated concessionary-travel smart-card service, rather than isolated software components. A credible competitor for a comparable requirement would need to demonstrate an ITSO-compliant system spanning host operator processing, secure application module management, cardholder and card administration, online applications, and print and dispatch. It would also need to integrate national concessionary travel with commercial schemes and support accurate journey recording and eligibility checks for older and disabled passengers. The competition required evidence of technical ability and legal and financial capacity, plus a solution meeting all essential and mandatory requirements. Strong quality and technical delivery mattered more than price in the scoring, with social value also assessed. The council may also require capacity for implementation, ongoing managed services and related optional services.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

NoWcard Concessionary Travel System (Managed Service)

Notice Description

NoWcard is a transport smart card pass, most commonly for the elderly or disabled, available for use in Cumberland, Westmorland & Furness, Lancashire County Council (LCC), Blackburn with Darwen and Blackpool administrative areas. It is administered by LCC on behalf of all NoWcard members with the smart card recording journey details and verifies eligibility for the concessionary travel. LCC wish to engage a managed service provider to supply and maintain an ITSO (Integrated Transport Smartcard Organisation) compliant NoWcard system, which is composed of the following components; 1. Asset Management System - Host Operator Processing System (AMS - HOPS) 2. ITSO Secure Application Module (ISAM) management 3. Cardholder and Card Management System (CMS) - English National Concessionary Travel Scheme (ENCTS) and Commercial Schemes 4. On-line application (web portal) - integration of ENCTS and existing commercial CMS 5. Print and Dispatch

Lot Information

Lot 1

Options: The Authority may purchase additional managed services and associated goods and services related to the future concessionary system. Refer to Appendix B - Statement of Requirements and Appendix D - Schedule of Pricing for further details on scope of optional goods and services.

Renewal: The initial Contract period will be up to six (6) months for implementation and three (3) years for annual managed services. After such time the Authority may extend the Contract by any number of defined periods stipulated by the Authority pursuant to the Contract, provided that the total duration of the Contract Term does not exceed seven (7) years and six (6) months.

Planning Information

The early market engagement process is detailed within the Request for Information (RFI). Copies of the RFI documentation will be available at https://www.lancashire.gov.uk/business/tenders-and-procurement/tenders/. Interested bidders are recommended to revisit this link regularly for updates on questions and answers that LCC have received. Interested parties should complete the RFI returnable form and send to digitalprocurement@lancashire.gov.uk on or before the 30th October 2025. Lancashire County Council (LCC) intend to run the early market engagement via a desktop review, however LCC reserves the right to invited interest parties to a follow-up discussion to better understand their RFI response.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-05a385
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/097701-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Planning, Tender, Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK6 - Contract Award Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Goods
Procurement Method
Open
Procurement Method Details
Competitive flexible procedure
Tender Suitability
SME
Awardee Scale
SME

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

48 - Software package and information systems

CPV Codes

48000000 - Software package and information systems

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£1,200,000 £1M-£10M
Lots Value
£1,200,000 £1M-£10M
Awards Value
£1,200,000 £1M-£10M
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
16 Oct 20261 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
12 Jun 2026Expired
Future Notice Date
5 Jan 2026Expired
Award Date
7 Oct 20262 weeks ago
Contract Period
1 Nov 2026 - 31 Oct 2029 3-4 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Complete
Lots Status
Complete
Awards Status
Pending
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
Lancashire County Council
Additional Buyers

Blackburn with Darwen

Blackpool Council

Cumberland Council

Cumbria Combined Authority

Lancashire Combined County Authority

Westmorland and Furness Council

Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
PRESTON
Postcode
PR1 0LD
Postcode Area
Preston
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLD North West (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLD4 Lancashire
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLD45 Mid Lancashire
Delivery Location
TLD North West (England)
Local Authority
Preston
Electoral Ward
City Centre
Westminster Constituency
Preston

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

South West Smart Applications Ltd

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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